Loves Company: Combatting Emotional Disturbance in the Digital Age

The goal of this study is to determine whether a community-based website that is intended to provide support for adolescents experiencing psychological distress can improve members' mental health outcomes. The investigators want to understand if a digital platform can help young people who are suffering and may be unlikely to access more traditional forms of mental health services.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Adolescent - Emotional Problem
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: anonymous social support; Other: psychoeducation; Other: online resources

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 212
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Glen Oaks, New York, United States, 10011
      • Northwell Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 17 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 14-17
• Access to internet-connected device
• Residing in the United States

Exclusion Criteria:

*Inability to assent due to intellectual disability or lack of English language skills

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention; This condition will include access to a website that includes a social component, in addition to psychoeducation and access to resources.	Other: anonymous social support; Participants randomized to the intervention condition will be able to communicate with one another and offer social media-based forms of support (e.g., post music, photos, etc).; Other: psychoeducation; educational materials related to mental health; Other: online resources; links to online mental health resources
Active Comparator: Control; This condition will include access to a website that includes psychoeducation and access to resources.	Other: psychoeducation; educational materials related to mental health; Other: online resources; links to online mental health resources

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Adolescent Suicidal Ideation Measure score	frequency of suicidal thoughts and behaviors	6 months
Perceived burdensomeness and hopelessness scale score	lower burdensomeness and hopelessness in treatment group (lower score better)	6 months
General Behavior Inventory 10D (GBI 10D)	symptoms of depression lower in treatment group (lower score)	6 months
Life Satisfaction	level of satisfaction with quality of life	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Adolescent Suicidal Ideation Measure score	frequency of suicidal thoughts and behaviors	12 months
Perceived burdensomeness and hopelessness scale score	lower burdensomeness and hopelessness in treatment group (lower score better)	12 months
General Behavior Inventory 10D (GBI 10D)	symptoms of depression lower in treatment group (lower score)	12 months
Life Satisfaction	level of satisfaction with quality of life	12 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
site engagement	time spent on site	6 months
General Behavior Inventory 10D (GBI 10D)	changes in depressive symptoms	weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26
Perceived burdensomeness and hopelessness scale score	change in burdensomeness and hopelessness	weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwell Health
• Collaborators: American Psychological Foundation

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Barzilay S, Feldman D, Snir A, Apter A, Carli V, Hoven CW, Wasserman C, Sarchiapone M, Wasserman D. The interpersonal theory of suicide and adolescent suicidal behavior. J Affect Disord. 2015 Sep 1;183:68-74. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.04.047. Epub 2015 May 7.
• Bearman PS, Moody J. Suicide and friendships among American adolescents. Am J Public Health. 2004 Jan;94(1):89-95. doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.1.89.
• Belfer ML. Child and adolescent mental disorders: the magnitude of the problem across the globe. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008 Mar;49(3):226-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01855.x. Epub 2008 Jan 21.
• Birnbaum ML, Candan K, Libby I, Pascucci O, Kane J. Impact of online resources and social media on help-seeking behaviour in youth with psychotic symptoms. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2016 Oct;10(5):397-403. doi: 10.1111/eip.12179. Epub 2014 Sep 9.
• Brissette I, Scheier MF, Carver CS. The role of optimism in social network development, coping, and psychological adjustment during a life transition. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2002 Jan;82(1):102-11. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.82.1.102.
• Gould MS, Velting D, Kleinman M, Lucas C, Thomas JG, Chung M. Teenagers' attitudes about coping strategies and help-seeking behavior for suicidality. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2004 Sep;43(9):1124-33. doi: 10.1097/01.chi.0000132811.06547.31.
• Heflinger CA, Hinshaw SP. Stigma in child and adolescent mental health services research: understanding professional and institutional stigmatization of youth with mental health problems and their families. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2010 Mar;37(1-2):61-70. doi: 10.1007/s10488-010-0294-z.
• La Greca AM, Harrison HM. Adolescent peer relations, friendships, and romantic relationships: do they predict social anxiety and depression? J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2005 Mar;34(1):49-61. doi: 10.1207/s15374424jccp3401_5.
• Maher CA, Lewis LK, Ferrar K, Marshall S, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Vandelanotte C. Are health behavior change interventions that use online social networks effective? A systematic review. J Med Internet Res. 2014 Feb 14;16(2):e40. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2952.
• McGorry P, Bates T, Birchwood M. Designing youth mental health services for the 21st century: examples from Australia, Ireland and the UK. Br J Psychiatry Suppl. 2013 Jan;54:s30-5. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.119214.
• Safer DJ. Self-reported suicide attempts by adolescents. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 1997 Dec;9(4):263-9. doi: 10.1023/a:1022364629060.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 20, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 31, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): July 31, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 2, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 16, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): February 23, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 11, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 8, 2022
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: adolescent; mental health; social media
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Affective Symptoms
• Other Study ID Numbers: 18-0062-ZHH

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No